Yvette Cooper MP, Labour's Shadow Home Secretary, said in response to Theresa May's proposed changes to the way police and immigration services work to remove foreigners who are operating in British gangs:

"Whatever promises the Tory-led Government makes the truth is they are making it harder not easier to crackdown on gangs and foreign criminals. By cutting 16,000 police officers they are weakening the fight against urban crime and gangs.

"The latest figures show the number of foreign criminals UKBA are failing to deport is in the thousands and mainly due to the paper work not being obtained. Yet the Government is cutting 5,000 staff from UK Border Agency, undermining enforcement.

"We welcome the police and UKBA working more closely together, and it has worked in the past in London. But that was before Theresa May pulled the rug from under the police and border staff."